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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 135, 26 July 1876, Page 2

In answer to the application of the Town Board for tho use of the Court House to hold their meetings in, a reply lias been received from the Government giving the required permission, of which advantage will bo taken in the transaction of all future business'.-

: ,-At the district ploughing match next week,, onr loxil ploughmen uiust look to their laurels,, for there will bo several co nipetitors 'from ■'Hawera ■ and tli creationts, others from Wairoag and last, though not least, a crack -daisy-turner from New .Plymouth, who expects tp.dofeat the Patea Vclobrilies wilh'case. - The matches'promise to he very,interesting, 'and it is thought that the .entries, will be numerous. * ■ ... - - Wo’ -specially remind the public that the, Patea ''Amateur ‘Combination Troupe will make "their first appearance at the ■’ Town Hall this -evening, in the opening’ ■entertainment of the winter season. We have on previous occasions stated that all the.members have taken special pains in.' the. preparation of this performance, and there appears every probability of it going-" off well. The. prices of admission are very- ■ reasonable,, and .amusement very rare in this.-livoly city, so there is every chance of the ball being.-crowded, in case the. weather is even moderately favorable.’;.-,Apropos of. this, and other-entertainments at the hall, would if not be desirable on the part ’bf the company to lay down a good approach * •to it,* aiicl'-also fo so 'place-a : 'lamp .as' to reflect intb'iho street, and allow-'visitors ingress, or egress, without the chance of stepping over then ancles in water. Verb,sav, sat.

We regret to say that, a rather serious casualty happened to Mr Arthur Haywood, one of the Patea learn, whilst playing in the football match on Saturday last, against iiawera and Wailii. Very early in the match, whilst in a “ scrimmage,” by some means or other Ids collar bone was broken and as a matter of course be bad to retire. Dr Groft set the fracture, ami wo are glad to say. that the su(Tcrcr* is ' going on 'excellently

A Patea Quadrille club lias been formed, and will bold its first, practice on Tuesday next, August Ist. The promoters have engaged (lie. use of the Town Hall here for one night m each week for three months, and have made every arrangement for tho comfort and amusement of those who join. Material for the manufacture of cement of excellent quality lias been found in the district, in almost inexhaustible quantity and readily accessible. This will prove a groat boon, should the projected harbor works be carried out, and in any case cannot fail to pro\c of great value generally.

A serious accident occurred to the New Plymouth coach, on its way to liawera, on Monday last It was driven by Napoleon, or Greed, Maori whips, and got along as far as Harriet Beach, about eight miles on the other side of Opuuake, so named in memory of an ill-fated vessel that'went ashore there years ago. Whilst crossing this the tide was high, and for some distance the coach had great diflicuity in getting along. At one point, however, at tho Oliaumii stream, an unusually high wave struck the coach, almost submerged it, ami lifted tiio body from the fore carriage. There were two gentlemen inside at the time, who, together with the detached portion of the vehicle, were carried out rapidly to sea, ami had great difficulty in regaining the shore. The coach in tho meantime was being tossed about in the breakers, and was eventually cither thrown or got ashore, a complete wreck. The driver and horses managed to swim or scramble into a place of safety. Tho mails as a matter of course, were thoroughly saturated, ami as far as wo can learn, it is doubtful whether some were not washed out. Those recovered wore forwarded on horseback, hut the half-drowned passengers were left behind, and how they got on wo have no information. In fact we have not at present further particulars to hand, and cannot say whether'any fault lies with the Maori driver or not. Certain it is, however, that a narrow escape from a fatal accident has occurred, and no doubt a Knot enquiry into the causes that led to it will be instituted. Complaints of reckless driving have been made more than once; whether justified or not, ami if; this bars been so brought about, stops to prevent its recurrence should at once be taken. The names of the passengers are Carter, ami Lloyd. We learn, on unquestionable authority, that the Hoad Board elections will not take place for some little time, ami that the ratepayers of tho various districts will not be called together till legislation, now pending, has been disposed of. Chief amongst this is the Rating Bill, which is progressing slowly through-committee in' the House of Representatives, and when through that branch of the Legislature, will have to run the gauntlet of the Legislative Council, before being submitted for viceregal approval, and becoming law. How long this will occupy is of course uncertain, but till completed, the Road Boards and necessary works connected with them are hung -up, their functions virtually ceasing at the close of last month. After tho late football contest, a meeting of gentlemen interested in getting up a match against i Wanganui, was held at the Albion hotel-the same evening, and was well attended. A committee consisting of Messrs G. Baylcy, Cowan, Greig, Inman, and Tennent, was appointed to choose the tcairi .for this district in;tho event of the ‘Wanganui-district, accepting' a challenger -It was agreed “that-the-match should come off at- Wanganui on the 3rd Saturday of next month, the 19th hist, if the Wanganui men would play on that date. In the meantime" a'.match is to be arranged between the 15 gentlemen chosen to,represent this district against Wanganui, and the next best 20--players in this district, the match .to bo played at Manutahi on Saturday week.: Those desiring to-become possessors of some of the best building sites ini tlic township’ have’ an opportunity of doing so on most fayoiablo terms and at low rates., Mr ; W. Dale is authorised' to sell, oh deferred payments, some of ’ the most .valuable plots in tho township,, suitable either' for business, establishments or; private.'houses. : Further particulars can be obtained on application to. him at his office. ’ Mr William Mackunc writes a long letter to the Auckland Star, flatly* contradicting thc'published statement of the Vice-Presi-dent of the Auckland Licensed Victualler’s Association, '■ that ho had asked tho Associa-. tion to supply him with fluids to go om a tourtlp - oug!i tliis Colony lecturing against Good: Tolnplary. Mr Madame said his motive; for asking for an interview with the Licensed Victuallers, was t to iplace ; before them, bis and the Church of Eng-’ land Temperance: . Societyls ; ;plan' for reclaiming"-those'.who are .slaves,' to the intoxicating cup.

■The necessity,absolute. glaring nocossi l y, there is L'or Hie establishment of a small hospital here is daily made more inanitest, and the indifference that both the public and the Government show respecting such an ’ institution is ay heartless as . extraordinary. An unfortunate man is at the present time laid tip, with a very severe attack of rheumatic fever at Oeo, where it is impossible to obtain either tin;.necessary; care and attention, or medical abbot"’ any kind. Captain Wilson of: Optmakc, to whom the case was made known, com-: mnnicated with Major Turner here, who hi turn communicated with (he-Provincial authorities, and it was resolved to bring the sufferer down to Carlyle, locate him in an hotel, and provide medical attendance. Owing to some cause, the smash up of the coach possibly, he has not yet come down, and his.recovery or death is left in Hal lire’s hands. Ihit, were ho brought, how absurd it is to place him at a great expense at an hotel, when ••liiero > aie-empty rooms in abundance in the disused immigration , quarters. Why not at once turn some of this wasted, space into a hospital, instead of allowing the buildings to rot unoccupied? The miserable sum voted for sick purposes by the Provincial Council could bo readily supplemented by : district subscriptions, sufficiimt to maintain a miniature hospital hero, one amply sufficient for all requirements,'but the people are 100 apathetic or inhuman-dp: stir themselves to that end, and the money voted is limited to few, instead of being useful, as it might be made, to many. ■ “ Athens,” in the Melbourne Lender,* writes :“ A lady was examining k servant the other day with the view of engaging her. What is-the address of your last employer she asked ?’ 1 What for, ma’am ?’ inquired 13 rid get: ‘To take up ymir character,’ replied' die lady.' ‘ I always require a personal reference.’ ‘ See there now,’ said Bridget. ‘ Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind giving mo your last girl’s address. Them as. wants karacters of others should bo able to show one themselves.’ The reasoning seems fair'enough but it led to an abrupt stop to the neg'otiations.”

A Dr. Van llomert, who, with his.wife and a family of eight children, recently came out to Dunedin, died of fovot, and Ids wife also died a few days afterwards, leaving eight children totally .destitute. The Dunedin public have taken their ease up with their accustomed lihiM'ality. Sir Charles Duke’s paper, the Weekly Dexjiatch, contains the following : —“ Our old friend, John Brown, is the hero of another Court story. Prince Christian, who is the Ranger of Windsor Forest, proposed before the close of the pligasant season to have a small shooting, party of In's own friends. As is the custom in such cases, he submitted the names to ber .Majesty, and they wore approved, in the hope’ that Mr Brown should bo included in the number. The Prince politely bowed to tins request, but instead of sending out l!id invitations, as: lie intended he withheld them, and he and‘Mr Brown’ had the sport to themselves. Mils Highness has been warmly commended for thus refusing to place this influential ‘gillie’on a level with his own guests. The Queen, however, was by no moans satisfied with tnis arrangement ; and as the slight came from

one member of the. royal circle for whom her Majesty lias a profound regal'd, and ■whom she consults more than any member of her family, this little annoyance was felt with all the more acuteness.”

Wc have been shown-a letter (says the Melbourne Echo) addressed to a lady , which hail- taken twenty-three years: to reach its destination. The letter concerns the disposal of about £3,000 worth of property in England, and lienee the authorities have put themselves to more than ordinary trouble to see that it fell into the hands of the person to whom it is addressed. It bears the date of April, 1853, and has circumnavigated the globe-' twice. It lias sought its ownerin Sydney on two different occasions, and failing in its mission to t|ie'.Southern Cross it fel] into the London Dead Letter Office, where it remained for live years., At last it was for .varded to California, .and was perused by the rightful party nearly a quarter of a century after it was penned!ln tire protracted interval that elapsed between its penning and delivery, the estate to which it related was' wasted;by costly litigation, and is now scarcely worth the trouble of going to look after it. - , . ■

Captain Malct, in speaking af a recent Church Congress on church work in the army, told a good story. A recruit, on being asked by bis commanding officer what religion he professed, in order that' he might; go to Ids: proper place* of worship, said,“ Please sir, I have not made up my mind !” . lie probably thought; hq‘; would got oil: the church parade, but the officer was equal to the occasion. Turning to the sergeant of his company, he said, “ Sergeant! Here-is a man who has! not made up his mind as" toAvhat religion,he is; We will give him every opportunity. Let him b'o marched to the llomanist service at- 7.45 ; to the Church of England parade at 9.15 ; and at the Presbyterian service ; at 11 until .further' orders,” ; The man.soon made up his mind that he was a devout Churchman, probably, said Captain Malet, because the service was the shortest one. : I

A 'young man named Flaws had a most miraculous' I, escape from being ground to atoms recently at Wellington. lie was engaged .shunting the waggons at O’Malley’s harbor .reclamation works, when his foot caught hiia rope which he was attaching tif-onp qjlftlio trucks, and he fell to the ground. At the same moment the waggons ran olf the rails,, and before the engine could be stopped three wheels'had; crossed over his hody ahont the loins." Dr. Grace was sent for, and, to the fitter amazement of all - present, gave his opinion that no bone was broken, flaws was afterwards removed to his own home, where he still lies much bruised, ! blit seemingly not dangerously hurt. Scene.—The Court-house of a oountiy district, in a neighbouring Province. The magisterial Solon on the, figurative bench.,Tlip .case before the Court is one for debt, the defendant being aknightof the thimble, goose, and slceveboard. The defendant

acknowledged the justness .of the' - debt, without any demur, but pleaded inability to pay at present. “Said bis Worship, “ What time do yon require .to pay this debt in?” , “ Well’ your Worship,” replied the defendant, “ If you will only pay mo that little account you owe mo, I can settle the claim, at once,” : The scene hi Court may perhaps he imagined, but can’t he kasily described. . - The arrival of ll 10 ship Camperdown discloses a singular circumstance. As the ship was .approaching. Nelson she spoke the Edwin Bassett in' the Strait. Now it happens that Captain Patou, of .the Oamperdown, has a brother whom hb had "hot seen for.nineteen - years, ami with whom he. had not corresponded, for nine, years ; and having heard, that his brother was in command of a New Zealand collier, he hailed'the Edwin Bassett, !U id enquired if his brother commanded, . her. lie- was answoicd “ No ;, that his brother was in command of■ the Robin Hood. Well, the case 1 with which the informal ion wak obtained at sea, struck the Hast male, Mr Woods, and he also has a long lost brother, of whom all he could ever learn was that lie was on a collier in Now Zealand ; so, on speculation, he hailed the Edwin Bassett, and asked if his brother was there ; and the answer was, “No; that his'brother was first mate of the Robin Hood,” of which Captain Patou’s brother was commander. It would appear tliat New Zealand offers peculiar facilities for discover-, ing relations, since the first mate, Mr Woods, has a brother-in-law also on board a New Zealand collier, being captain of the brig Neptune. The Ballarat-correspondent of the Melbourne Ar'ff us writes : —Rope-walking must cither bo an accomplishment easily acquired, or our Australian youths must bo wonderfully precocious and daring. Till Biondin came to Victoria lie had no imitators ; at least no successful' ones.- Pinee he has been here imitators have sprung up like mushrooms after an autumn rain, and some of those have even out-Biundined the rope king himsol f. The Blondinfidiowers have 1 1 ilherl6 been of the "male persuasion only p but unless I am misinformed there is a girl' expected to make a public exhibition ; o : f Tier powers' ini the TopP or'bn'"a 1 wire, it is all one to her —which is likely to throw all previous rope-walkers into the. .shade. Her parents strongly object to her exhibiting in public, aud it is doubtful if she will be able to overcome thoif'scruples in tliat. direction.. She’is said to have a wonderful faculty of balancing herself, on even a single wire, without using a pole, or any thing but her outstretched arms, and rarely, has.she to resent to them for aid. She can walk, rim,'hop, or dance, on the wire, and carry a.weight equal to 401b on it, with ns much apparent confidence as if she was on the floor of a room.